英国首相Andy Burnham计划召集保守党和自由民主党领导人，就社会护理改革寻求跨党派共识[1]。Burnham承诺采取"问题解决而非政治攻讦"的方式推进这一议题[1]。自由民主党领导人Ed Davey确认将通过视频通话参加会议[1]，而保守党领导人Kemi Badenoch因计划性手术无法出席，由影子卫生大臣Stuart Andrew代替[1]。
由Lady Casey主导的"大护理对话"公众咨询将于周三启动[1]。政府正在考虑建立NHS风格的免费护理系统，并曾提议用10%的遗产税征税取代现有继承税，以筹集约18亿英镑用于改革[1]。上月平均每天有13,600人因身体康复但无法获得成人社会护理而滞留医院床位[1]。部分工党议员对改革护理部门的财政负担表示担忧[1]。
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is convening senior opposition leaders to build consensus around urgent reforms to the social care system. [1] The initiative aims to tackle what Burnham describes as a crisis affecting thousands of patients; on average, 13,600 people are occupying hospital beds daily after recovering physically but unable to access adult social care. [1]
Burnham has invited Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to participate in discussions focused on problem-solving rather than political point-scoring. [1] Ed Davey confirmed his attendance via video call, while Badenoch will be represented by shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew due to planned surgery. [1] Stating that "there is nowhere more urgent than social care," Burnham emphasized the need for "a different kind of politics: problem-solving rather than point-scoring." [1]
The government is accelerating an independent review led by Lady Casey, who will launch a public consultation called the "Big Conversation on Care" on Wednesday. [1] Among potential solutions under consideration is the establishment of a free care system modeled on the NHS. [1] Burnham previously proposed replacing inheritance tax with a 10 percent levy on estates to fund social care reform, potentially raising approximately 1.8 billion pounds. [1] However, some Labour MPs have expressed concern about the financial burden of reform on the care sector. [1]